No Ryan Braun in game against SF Giants, plus why Affeldt isn’t pitching and today’s lineups

A day after homering in his first Cactus League game, against the A’s, Ryan Braun is not expected to make the trip to Scottsdale Stadium for today’s Giants-Brewers game. I was curious to hear the fan reaction, which apparently was mixed at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.

The Giants are playing a road split-squad game against the A’s today, too.

Jeremy Affeldt is pitching in neither. He revealed that the staff wants to keep him out of early games to strengthen his legs after an extensive operation to fix tears in two muscles and a tendon last September. Instead, he will throw a bullpen session today and face hitters in live batting practice Sunday.

The Giants need a healthy Affeldt because he can pitch multiple innings and face righties and lefties, but they don’t feel the need for him to do it in February and risk reinjury playing at game speed.

“I had my whole leg reattached, so I can’t expect to ramp it up now,” Affeldt said. “I’d rather make sure everything is strong than throw in the first three games.”

Affeldt believe he can get ready for the season with 10 to 12 Cactus League innings, “and I can get that pretty quick.”

“I”m not a starter. I don’t need to get up to 70 or 80 pitches. If I’m out there 15 to 20 pitches, it’s either chaos or it’s time for Javier Lopez to come in and help me out.”

Here’s the home lineup against the Brewers:

Pagan CF

Abreu 2B

Posey C

Pence RF

Morse DH

Arias 3B

Colvin LF

Minicozzi 1B

Adrianza SS

(Bumgarner pitching)

And the lineup at Oakland:

Brown CF

Crawford SS

Belt 1B

Sandoval 3B

Sanchez DH

Perez LF

Herrera RF

Noonan 2B

Quiroz C

(Escobar pitching)

Actually, Morse should have gone to Oakland. Josh Reddick isn’t starting in right field.